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Clouds and Trumpets

In the final steps of preparing His people to enter the Promised Land, God placed a cloud over the tabernacle to remind them that He was near and present, guiding and guarding them: “So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle … [and] in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels”[1]. He also told Moses to make two silver trumpets that would call “the community together” [2]– either the leaders to meeting or the entire nation to action.

Jesus

Thousands of years later, the high priest tore his clothes when Jesus identified Himself with the cloud because he knew that Jesus was claiming to be God among His people: “The high priest said to him, ‘ … Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied. ‘ … From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy!’”[3]. Additionally, Jesus spoke as a trumpet in John’s vision of heaven: “I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet”[4] and, when he looked to see who spoke, he saw Jesus, who said, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!” [5]

Today

Today, we are not done with clouds and trumpets. Indeed, Paul wrote that we should “encourage one another” with the reminder that we will be called home by trumpets and gathered in clouds: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command … and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words” [6].

Prayer

Lord, Thank You for visible reminders of Your presence among us – whether by clouds and trumpets or, most ultimately, Your Son. As we journey through the wilderness of this life, prepare us for the Promised Land by increasing our hope in You so that we can obey You and endure to the end. Amen.